ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL, Davao del Norte (PIA) - - Farmer irrigators in this island city are thankful to the government for the various farm implements they received which will be of great help for them.

This after they group recently received a total of P2.33 million worth of  mechanized agricultural equipment that the City Agriculture Office turned over to them.

The Tagbaobo and Aumbay Farmers Irrigators Service Association (TAFISA), Inc. received one unit of rice combine harvester, one unit of walk-behind rice transplanters, and two units of floating tiller given by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

DA-RCEF seeks to improve the competitiveness of rice farmers and increase their income through the provision of seed, mechanization, extension, and credit services.

During the turnover ceremony, CAGRO head Jimuel Rebigan thanked City Mayor Al David T. Uy and the 9th City Council, headed by City Vice Mayor Lemuel Reyes, for their constant efforts in endorsing the needs of the association to the Department of Agriculture.

Reyes also encouraged the association members and officers to organize their association into a cooperative for them to draw additional sources of income.

On the other hand, City Council Committee Chairman on Agriculture Aldwin Jumao-as reminded the recipients to take care of the machinery, considering them  as “very fortunate to receive such equipment among all the other cities that also need” the  mechanized farm implements.

With all the support they received,  TAFISA President Jerry Roble expressed his gratitude to the city officials and CAGRO for helping them push their requests to the national agencies .  (JMDA/ PIA Davao with  reports and photos from  Samal Information Office)